Life In a nutshell..

Life never really turns out how we expect..
I had expected by now to have had myself totally established on Youtube (doing more than one video a week) and on this blog (doing at least  one post a day. ) But My life seems to go better when i allow myself to just fall into things. and as I have been learning to simply be myself... thats ok. The etsy store is still just in the back of my mind and thats ok.


Im happy with finding myself and figuring out what I am doing...but I will always be here.

XoXo ～～～～～～～Nica

a little writer's block...

Lately things have been very busy....and I am sick 😧  😷

Yes I just used emojis...

Thanksgiving has come and gone.. but now finals, my birthday and the annual Christmas party is coming up. So So So much is happening..On the bright side thing will be chilling out the end of January....But then picking right back up again when I launch my etsy store also named "she's got a bird on her back" and putting more focus on my YouTube channel . Finally thing are coming together..at least I hope.. Ive been feeling really nervous about the upcoming changes even though they are good..change is a Nica-No Likey 

But I have made the decision to wade into the water instead of diving in too fast. I talked with my bosses today and I will be working very very part time so I can fund my etsy store better and Ill have a krutch for my little family 

Any way thats whats up for now....I forced myself to write even though i feel sick and gross..

No pics today....

 Check out my youtube channel Here!!

xOxO ～～～Nica

FriendsGiving.

I absolutely love every part of this season..From Halloween to New Years I just want fun and excitement. Thanksgiving I think kind of gets the sad end of the deal. Everyone is already thinking about christmas when it finally rolls around.

Obviously Thanksgiving is a time of thanks but also a time to celebrate the people we love! I had a blast this year at friendsgiving. 

I hope you all enjoy your holiday season. I will ave a more in depth post after this week about our thanksgiving 

Ps. Dont mind the zombie pumpkin...I didn't have the heart to get rid of it just yet.. lol



XoXo ～～～～Nica

Christmas Cards are coming!!!

Im still a newlywed so this is ok....David and I just did our first official family portraits as a married couple!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙  (dont worry Scraps too!) 

It's so surreal to think that I am married sometimes.. I still find myself looking at my wedding ring and wondering if it's all a dream.. (I know that sounds silly right?) 

I can't wait to share pictures after thanksgiving (not too soon) and be ready for a DIY tutorial on how to make some of your very own!!!!



TaTa for Now 💙💙💙💙

XoXo～～ Nica

I am Pleased to announce...

This next year is going to be a big year for myself and this blog... 

ever since I stumbled upon "A Beautiful Mess" over 5 years ago I have found a huge passion for crafting, fashion and a beautiful life.. (I owe Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman so much..In so many ways I am who I am today because of ABM.)  And I am finally going to make time for me so I can follow these passions in this Blog, on Youtube....aaaaand my very own Etsy store!!!!!

My AMAZING Husband has been so supportive of my dreams...I have just been to scared to actually DO it.  Going through all that I went through with an abusive boss..Yes I am finally able to say it ..and really say it... had a lot of effects on me personally. I spent the past  years silently suffering depression and anxiety. I honestly believed the best way to get past it by hiding it....but im ready now to talk about it. and that is a huge step for me.


Im very much ready for my new journey to begin!! But I will begin posting the way I had always intended in January !! And I will be writing a regular family blog called "The Mclaughlin Nest" for more personal family updates. I will be partnering with my wonderful sister in law to make this blog great and I am so excited!!!


Thanks for reading!!

XoXo---Nica Bird!!

Oh The future.... Here we go.

Im not really sure where to start here...but I have to put it somewhere....

If you are a friend with me on facebook or you are personally close with me in general you know that these past two years have been an emotional roller coaster. I was fired from my job and humiliated, My husband took on a worship leader job that ended terribly, I developed an anxiety disorder due to all of the crazy, But also my 2nd niece was born, I married the love of my life, I adopted the puppy I had always wanted and I launched and more recently re-launched my You-Tube channel.
Im Finally in a place where I know what my new dreams are. And that feels pretty good but it also feels really scary. I find myself waiting for something to happen that will ruin my dreams. That being said I need to say this somewhere because I don't want to let my anxiety win. I don't want to give up and run away.
This January I will be launching an etsy store.
I will hopefully be selling hand made and or re-furbished Jewelry boxes.
Some of the DIY projects I do either on my own or on youtube (depending what it is) I dont really want to sell anything from ABM because it wasn't my original idea.
And possibly wedding, christmas and Halloween decor as is appropriate
My You-Tube Channel will become a top priority.
Im not in this for the views (not that i don't want them) but i'm in this because I enjoy it. This has been the best way to battle my anxiety and I love it. I love sharing my projects, I love sharing my stories and my thoughts on things. I have loved youtube since I was 14. Ive been debating sharing my channel with all of my friends on facebook either The first monday of November or waiting until January and I honestly think I want to wait just to get a little more confident with it.
I want to finally move on from my traumatic job experience..and that means a lot for this blog because Im ready to start blogging more. So get ready for more Tips and Tricks and just living life. I am ready (in January) to move on and be someone..

XoXo Nica
Check out my youtube channel I can use all the encouragement I can get!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeMkbDOrvKBI5Ozdu_r0XCA  

When you feel lost in your own skin...

A Year ago today (Oct 2nd) the love of my life got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was the most amazing moment in my life I was so happy I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep it was the perfect kind of happiness. I had been waiting for this moment pretty much since the moment I met him...

This moment saved my life in many ways, I was healing from one of the most difficult seasons of life that I had ever experienced I was battling many demons such as depression, anxiety and this feeling of lost I had never experienced before.. After 6 months of planning (mostly on my own because my then Fiance had a demanding work schedule) I got to walk down the isle to Razzle Dazzle Rose as I had been dreaming for the past 3 years...This was an amazing day 6 months ago.

But now here I am having to accept the fact that I am still wounded. I was abused (verbally) at my job and that left me seriously broken. People have told me its time to move on...and I simply cant. I cant go into my job without being terrified my boss is going to scream at me and humiliate me. I cant go into walmart without a fear that everyone around me is judging me. This is who I am now... sad scared and wounded....but thats OK. 

When you get into a car wreck you don't heal in one day..You can sue the driver of the car all you want but that wont fix the wounds. People say that Time will Heal wounds and Time is different for all. Sometimes when exciting things happen for people around me whom I love, I get this sensation of jealousy and a self loathing thinking "why cant I do something like that, Why am I still here? Why don't I feel good enough. Truth be told I haven't felt "good enough" since the day I left The Preschool, sat at a coffee shop and mourned for myself....I then had to proceed to a bachalorette party pretending that I was ok...I haven't been ok since those moments happened. People have shown me love, but something in me wont let me see it.

I feel broken..and thats who I am for now....It doesn't have to be for ever...but I am broken and my wounds are healing. I hope soon I can get past this...That I can simply be happy for people...that I can believe in myself again...but I know that will take time.. I am done rushing myself.  I want to want to help people and love them..but this sadness. 

The Best advice I can give to someone going through something similar...enjoy the little things. I know everyone says it....but it really is the best thing. Some forms of sadness go hour by hour.. don't believe that you are waisting those hours but instead breath in the moments as they are and take what you learn from them and move on to the next hour. Accept who you are but also accept that life can change in an instant and a moment could make you a different person....just breathe and you will see tomorrow..

I see Tomorrow.
xOxO
Nica